Dishwasher buying guide 2021: Which type to choose, what to look out for and how to install

We cycle through the key points you need to consider before you buy a dishwasher

Think about your needs in terms of efficiency, energy consumption, sound levels and speed (The Independent/iStockphoto)

Getting a dishwasher could be your ticket to more free time, less kitchen clutter, and an altogether easier way to keep your dishes clean.

The only problem is that dishwashers can come with potential pitfalls attached, from cleaning crises to issues with your kitchen’s interior design.

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This guide will answer some of the key questions that will help you get only the best out of your new appliance, including which type of dishwasher to buy, how dishwasher installation works, and whether or not there’s any truth in the scary newspaper headlines about dishwashers being bad for your health.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.

Which type of dishwasher should I buy?

Most dishwashers can be categorised according to either of two factors:

• How the dishwasher fits into a kitchen
• Its dimensions

Your choice of dishwasher should be based largely on these factors. Is your chosen model suitably sized, and is it the right type to fit your kitchen design?

Freestanding dishwashers

These dishwashers are standalone appliances that can be situated in any suitable place around the kitchen (or utility room). Unlike integrated models, freestanding dishwashers are not designed to allow the addition of a door on the front of the appliance. They are the finished article.

Freestanding dishwashers offer unbeatable flexibility and simplicity. They can be installed, serviced and moved with relative ease.

IndyBest best buy freestanding dishwasher: Miele G5210SC full-size dishwasher: £899.99, Currys.co.uk

This model is perfect for medium-sized households, taking roughly 14 place settings (Miele )

The Miele full-size dishwasher swept away the competition to scoop the top prize in our review of the best dishwashers. Our tester found that it delivered amazing performance and a design that is both smart and approachable. From the easy-to-manipulate trays and baskets within the machine, to the dishwasher’s eco program, which gets the appliance’s water consumption down to a remarkably low rate, they found it a great all-rounder.

Slimline dishwashers

As the name suggests, this dishwasher type is known for its narrow profile. The obvious benefit of slimline dishwashers is that they can save on space in the kitchen, with a width of around 45cm, as opposed to the 60cm width of a standard dishwasher. It’s worth bearing in mind that while slimline dishwashers are, indeed, slim, they are usually every bit as deep as a standard dishwasher.

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The relatively low load size of a slimline dishwasher could be either an eco-friendly benefit or an impractical nuisance, depending on how much kitchenware your household gets through. Slimline dishwashers can typically wash about ten place settings – or ten individual meal servings – in one go, whereas standard-size dishwashers can wash about 12 place settings at once.

Slimline dishwashers are available in both integrated and freestanding categories.

Tabletop dishwashers

These dishwashers sit on top of a surface such as a kitchen counter. They save space vertically, and wash small loads in the range of six – eight place settings.

If you’re thinking of buying a tabletop dishwasher, just be sure to check that you have a suitably strong and stable surface to keep it on. Some tables might be too weak to accommodate the weight of the appliance plus the kitchenware and water inside it.

Integrated dishwashers

Dishwashers of this type are designed to be built into your kitchen units – so you can get them fitted behind a door that matches the design of the kitchen as a whole.

The main benefit to choosing an integrated dishwasher is that it will give you the greatest degree of control over your kitchen’s interior design. For instance, you can have a wooden door or panel covering the front of the appliance.

SMEG DID13TP3 full-size fully integrated dishwasher: £529, Currys.co.uk

Do your bit for the environment with an A+++ energy rated model (SMEG)

This was our tester’s favourite integrated dishwasher in their review of the best, where they said: “The Smeg DID13TP3 is slick as can be, with stylish controls, an accommodating choice of baskets, and one of the speediest quick washes we’ve encountered, stopping the clock at a zippy 27 minutes.” There’s also an air-dry option that opens the door at the end of the cycle, meaning you can let the load dry naturally, without the need to use any additional energy.

How to clean a dishwasher

Although a dishwasher tablet should do a good job of cleaning the dishes inside a dishwasher, it can’t be relied on to sanitise the dishwasher itself.

As such, it’s important to clean your dishwasher regularly. Not only does this keep the appliance hygienic; it also ensures it can perform at its best.

One simple step you can take to greatly improve the cleanliness of your dishwasher, is to check for scraps of food inside the appliance after every use. It’s much easier to remove food waste while it’s still relatively fresh.

You should also make a habit of doing cleaning cycles on a regular basis. Some users do this using dedicated product, such as dishwasher cleaning tablets or liquid.

Others prefer a more homespun approach using kitchen-cupboard ingredients. The One Good Thing blog spells out the following a three-step approach, using white vinegar and baking soda: 

• Inspect the drain and remove any detritus
• Do a vinegar wash, by placing a small bowl filled with white vinegar on the top rack, then closing the door and running a cycle on the hottest setting
• After the cycle finishes, sprinkle some baking soda onto the top rack, then close the door and run a quick cycle on the hottest setting. 

We recommend trying a variety of cleaning approaches, to find what suits you and your dishwasher best.

Read more: 10 best natural cleaning products that actually work

How to install a dishwasher

A dishwasher needs to connect to three utilities in the home:

• A mains power outlet
• A water supply (usually cold water, but not always)
• A waste pipe leading to a drain

These three connections power the appliance, and enable water to flow into and out of it.

Some resourceful folk are happy to carry out all the work needed to make these connections themselves. Needless to say, some plumbing knowledge is essential to the task.

If you have decided to self-install a dishwasher, do be mindful that any errors could lead to leaks or malfunctions. Read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully, and pay heed to any directions on how to install the dishwasher and where to situate it.

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With all these words of caution in mind, you may decide on getting a specialist to install your dishwasher for you. Many online retailers offer installation as an add-on at the checkout – and we reckon you would probably be wise to take up such an offer, rather than going it alone.

Integrated dishwashers require an extra element in the installation process: namely, the addition of a door or panel on the front. This could be done either by a joiner, or by yourself, if you’re confident in your own DIY capabilities.

How to load a dishwasher

The easiest way to work out how to load a dishwasher is to look closely at the design of its racks, and fit items into place accordingly.

With that said, there are a few less-obvious tricks to loading a dishwasher that users should bear in mind, including:

• Face the dirtier sides of items towards the centre of the dishwasher (or towards whichever direction the appliance shoots water from)
• Place curved items such as plates and mugs on an angle. This helps water to drain out of them
• Keep plastic items on the upper rack. Some dishwashers can get hotter towards the bottom, causing materials like plastic to warp or melt
• Don’t overfill the dishwasher, as this may hinder its ability to clean thoroughly
• Use safety features, such as glass holders, wherever available
• Do not place sharp items such as kitchen knives in a dishwasher, as dishwashing can blunt sharp edges

Of course, you should also check to ensure each item of kitchenware is dishwasher-safe, before you start cleaning it in a dishwasher.

Is my dishwasher bad for my health?

Dishwashers can sometimes harbour dangerous pathogens, such as the fungi known as exophila and rhodotorula. 

Clearly, this is cause for concern. However, rather than ruling out dishwashers as a safe home appliance, the presence of these pathogens draws attention, above all, to the need for dishwashers to be cleaned regularly.

Cleaning techniques such as the routine using white vinegar and baking soda, outlined in this article, can help prevent pathogens from building up inside the appliance.

In short, there is a risk that a dishwasher could harbour pathogens with potential health dangers – but the same is also true of ubiquitous appliances like refrigerators and washing machines. With all of these appliances, regular cleaning is the key to safe and hygienic use.

A dishwasher could save you many hours each year when it comes to washing up your kitchenware. All you really need to do in return, is spend a little time each month making sure the appliance is clean and safe-for-use.

For more home appliances, read our review of the best two-slice toasters